Our list of 19 comfort movies to soothe your soul: The Lord of the Rings & more

IMDb rating: 7.1

Directed by: Stephen Sommers

Cast: Brendan Fraser, Rachel Weisz, John Hannah, Arnold Vosloo

Movie duration: 125 minutes

Synopsis: Adventurer Rick O’Connell (Fraser) and Egyptologist Evelyn Carnahan (Weisz) join forces to uncover the secret of an ancient Egyptian tomb. Alongside Carnahan’s brother Jonathan (Hannah) and a group of mercenaries looking for treasure, they unintentionally awaken the mummy of Imhotep (Vosloo), a high priest who was cursed for a forbidden love affair more than 3,000 years ago. Now, he is loose in the world, and it is up to O’Connell and Carnahan to stop him.

What makes it a comfort watch: It is a remake of the 1932 classic of the same name. You would not expect a horror film involving the waking up of an ancient evil to be so much fun, but it is. Fraser and Weisz share a crackling chemistry, and you can find a lot of thrills, humour and action here. Also, the always compelling ancient Egyptian mythology adds a sense of wonder.

Bonus tip: Do watch the sequel, The Mummy Returns (2001), but skip the prequel The Scorpion King (2002) and the sequel The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (2008) for your own sanity.

IMDb rating: 7.2

Directed by: Roger Michell

Cast: Hugh Grant, Julia Roberts, Richard McCabe

Movie duration: 124 minutes

Synopsis: A humble London bookstore owner William Thacker (Grant) and a famous Hollywood actress Anna Scott (Roberts) cross paths. Despite their vastly different backgrounds, they fall in love. Their relationship faces multiple challenges due to Scott’s fame and personal insecurities.

What makes it a comfort watch: Notting Hill is one of those movies that are rarely made these days — one that has two incredibly charismatic leads (with sizzling chemistry) who are also excellent actors. The movie immortalised the titular London neighbourhood, which became one of the city’s hottest shopping spots.

Awards won: Notting Hill was awarded a BAFTA in the Audience Award for Most Popular Film category.

Bonus tip: If you cannot get enough of Grant, Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994) is a great start.

IMDb rating: 7.3

Directed by: Paul King

Cast: Ben Whishaw (voice), Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins, Madeleine Harris, Samuel Joslin

Movie duration: 95 minutes

Synopsis: A young, marmalade-loving Peruvian bear named Paddington (voiced by Whishaw) ends up in London in search of a home. He finds shelter with the kindly couple, Henry (Bonneville) and Mary Brown (Hawkins), and their children Judy (Harris) and Jonathan (Joslin).

What makes it a comfort watch: The movie is based on late British children’s author Michael Bond’s Paddington Bear stories. Paddington is the quintessential comfort movie for people of all ages. The titular character is a little fur ball of goodness who exudes sheer warmth and joy. The tone is such that one gets an idea that nothing actually bad is going to happen in the story.

Bonus tip: The sequel Paddington 2, released in 2017, is even better than the first movie. It brings back much of the main cast and features a delightfully villainous performance by Hugh Grant.

IMDb rating: 7.6

Directed by: Taika Waititi, Jemaine Clement

Cast: Jemaine Clement, Taika Waititi, Ben Fransham, Jonathan Brugh

Movie duration: 85 minutes

Synopsis: A New Zealand mockumentary horror comedy movie, this movie follows a group of ancient vampires who live in a Wellington suburb and are having trouble adjusting to the mundane challenges one faces in the modern world: paying rent, household chores and so on. Viago (Waititi) is a fastidious vampire who is the unofficial leader of the group. Vladislav (Clement) is a once-powerful vampire who cannot fathom his waning strength and fame. Deacon (Brugh) is the youngest and most impulsive one who is treated like a lackey by others and doesn’t like it at all. Then there is Petyr (Fransham), the oldest of them all (he is more than eight millennia old), who likes to stay in the dark basement. The rest of them fear him and do not like to bother him.

What makes it a comfort watch: What We Do in the Shadows has one of the wittiest scripts you will ever come across. It parodies the vampire/horror genre while being a sharp commentary on the challenges of adjusting to a rapidly changing world. It is the whole package, with great performances, an inventive format and a short runtime. Best of all, it makes perfect use of its limited budget (it was made with USD 1.6 million, a throwaway amount for Hollywood movies).

Bonus tip: If you have not already, watch the TV series spinoff with the same title from FX. Created by Clement, it is somehow even better, funnier and more outrageous in the best way possible. There are five seasons with 50 episodes of goodness.

IMDb rating: 7.6

Directed by: Richard Curtis

Cast: Hugh Grant, Martine McCutcheon, Liam Neeson, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Colin Firth, Keira Knightley, Andrew Lincoln, Laura Linney, Bill Nighy, Alan Rickman

Movie duration: 136 minutes

Synopsis: Multiple little self-contained love stories depicting all kinds of love collide at the end of Christmas in jolly old London. England’s newly elected Prime Minister David (Grant) finds himself falling in love with a junior member of his household staff Natalie (McCutcheon). Daniel (Neeson), a man mourning his wife, struggles to connect with his stepson Sam (Brodie-Sangster). After the wedding of Juliet (Knightley) and Peter (Ejiofor), it turns out the best man Mark has a thing for the bride, judging by the fact that Juliet figures prominently, even as a bride, in the wedding video. These and more characters come together at a Christmas party.

What makes it a comfort watch: Although some aspects of Love, Actually have not aged well, it remains a holiday classic due to its enduring charm and many, many heartfelt moments it offers.

Bonus tip: If you like such intertwining love stories in your movies, Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011) is your best bet. It explores the complexities of love and relationships across different generations.

IMDb rating: 7.7

Directed by: Rob Reiner

Cast: Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan, Carrie Fisher

Movie duration: 96 minutes

Synopsis: This romantic comedy film follows a complicated relationship between Harry Burns (Crystal) and Sally Albright (Ryan), two people with different views on love, sex and relationships. For instance, Harry believes men and women cannot be friends as sex gets in the way. Sally disagrees. They meet on a road trip from Chicago to New York. Initially repelled by each other, they gradually strike up a bond while falling in and out of love with each other and others.

What makes it a comfort watch: Like Notting Hill, When Harry Met Sally… is one of those rom-coms that one can never tire of watching. It is also extremely well-written and seemingly needs only dialogue to drive the plot and keep one engaged. It also doesn’t hurt that the lead actors — Crystal and Ryan — are uncommonly charming, giving every scene involving them a sense of verisimilitude.

Awards won: Screenwriter Nora Ephron was given a BAFTA for Best Original Screenplay.

IMDb rating: 7.8

Directed by: Joe Wright

Cast: Keira Knightley, Matthew Macfadyen, Rosamund Pike, Simon Woods

Movie duration: 127 minutes

Synopsis: Elizabeth Bennet (Knightley) is a spirited and witty young woman who meets a brooding and aloof man called Fitzwilliam Darcy (Macfadyen) at a local social gathering in her English village. The film is about Darcy’s pride clashing with Elizabeth’s prejudice. Repulsed by his strange, arrogant behaviour, Elizabeth also later learns that he may have had a hand in his friend Charles Bingley (Woods) saying no to her sister, Jane Bennet (Pike). It all turns out to be a big misunderstanding, and the two find each other unexpectedly drawn towards each other.

What makes it a comfort watch: Based on Jane Austen’s literary classic of the same name. While the novel is adapted to death, this movie distinguishes itself, thanks to a few post-modern touches. There is something about this period in English history — landed gentry, the stunningly verdant countryside, and the simple and unhurried life that makes the stories set in that era so fun. For instance, the insane popularity and success of Netflix’s Bridgerton (2020–).

Bonus tip: If you like this, watch BBC’s miniseries adaptation that feels a little less hurried. It stars Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth in lead roles.

IMDb rating: 7.8

Directed by: Richard Curtis

Cast: Domhnall Gleeson, Rachel McAdams, Bill Nighy

Movie duration: 123 minutes

Synopsis: A romantic comedy that weaves in science fiction elements, About Time is about a young man Tim Lake (Gleeson) who realises that the male line in his family can time travel to correct past wrongs. Tim decided to use his ability to improve his love life. He meets and falls in love with a charming woman called Mary (McAdams). But later, Tim discovers that overly altering the past can have adverse unintended consequences and that there are limits to what one can do with these powers. Eventually, he decides to embrace his life fully, warts and all.

What makes it a comfort watch: About Time is not very thematically deep, but thanks to lovely performances (including solid supporting work by Nighy), mostly engaging dialogue and a screenplay trimmed off any fat, it is endlessly watchable. It celebrates love, life and family in an endearing way. What’s not to like?

Bonus tip: The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013) is somewhat similar and is worth checking out. Ben Stiller is great in it and so is Sean Penn in a supporting performance.

IMDb rating: 7.9

Directed by: Andrew Adamson, Vicky Jenson

Voice cast: Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, John Lithgow

Movie duration: 90 minutes

Synopsis: An anti-fairy tale movie, this animated feature is about an ogre called Shrek (Myers) who like all scary monsters lives in a swamp. His solitary existence is threatened when fairy tale characters (Pinocchio, The Three Little Pigs, Gingerbread Man and others), are exiled by the vertically challenged Lord Farquaad (Lithgow). To reclaim his home, the ogre and Farquaad hammer out a deal: for Farquaad, Shrek will rescue Princess Fiona (Diaz) from a castle watched over by a fearsome dragon. In return, Farquaad will clear out Shrek’s home of his uninvited guests. Tagging along with Shrek against his wishes is a talking (and talkative) donkey rather unimaginatively named Donkey (Murphy). When they finally meet Fiona, they realise there is more to her than meets the eye.

What makes it a comfort watch: The movie is based on William Steig’s 1990 children’s picture book of the same name. Shrek is the perfect palate cleanser for those who are tired of fairy tale movies where every beautiful character is also noble, every ugly character is evil, and a true love kiss saves the day. The film challenges traditional notions of heroism and beauty and does it in the funniest and most irreverent way possible. The voice-acting, particularly by Murphy, is outstanding and one of the reasons it remains endlessly watchable.

Bonus tip: All three sequels released so far (I hope to see more) are worth watching, though admittedly none quite capture the magic of the first film. They are all excellent in different ways and expand this world by introducing ever-nuttier characters and playing with fairy tale tropes in even funnier ways.

IMDb rating: 7.9

Directed by: James Cameron

Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Billy Zane

Movie duration: 195 minutes

Synopsis: This iconic romance-disaster film tells an epic love story set against the backdrop of the ill-fated maiden voyage by RMS Titanic. We follow a talented and free-spirited but poor artist, Jack Dawson (DiCaprio), who wins a place on the ship in a poker game. He meets and falls in love with Rose DeWitt Bukater (Winslet), a young noblewoman wanting to escape the suffocating confines of her life. (This is encapsulated nicely in a scene showing Rose actually struggling to breathe when she is forced to wear a corset by her domineering mother.) However, the ship strikes an iceberg and begins to sink.

What makes it a comfort watch: There is something timeless about Titanic that even other Cameron movies, some of which are arguably better like The Terminator (1984), cannot match. It is not just the love story or just the spectacle or just the superb performances — it’s all that, and more.

Awards won: 11 Oscars! Yes. Including Best Picture (for Cameron and Jon Landau), Best Director (for Cameron), Best Score (for James Horner) and more.

Bonus tip: This movie is great wherever and however you watch it, but it is particularly enjoyable with high-quality gear. So watch it on the biggest screen possible with the best sound system you can find. It occasionally re-releases in theatres, so keep an eye out for that as well.

IMDb rating: 7.9

Directed by: Rian Johnson

Cast: Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, Christopher Plummer

Movie duration: 130 minutes

Synopsis: A wealthy crime novelist Harlan Thrombey (Plummer) is found dead in his mansion just after his 85th birthday. Any one of the members of his dysfunctional family could be the culprit. They all have their reasons, you see, and will benefit from his demise. While the death is prima facie deemed a suicide, somebody hired genius but eccentric detective Benoit Blanc (Craig), who disagrees. After it turns out that old Thrombey has left all his wealth to his young and kind caretaker Marta Cabrera (de Armas), all hell breaks loose.

What makes it a comfort watch: Heavily inspired by Dame Agatha Christie and the kind of “cosy” murder mysteries she wrote, the film nevertheless manages to put a fresh spin on the genre. The setting is similar, the characters are similarly weird (if not downright malicious) and many (if not all) people involved have a motive.

Bonus tip: Make sure to watch Knives Out’s sequel, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022). Though only Blanc reprises his role, the sequel has its own set of unusual characters, who become suspects in a brand-new murder mystery.

Here’s our list of the best murder mystery movies on Prime Video

IMDb rating: 8.1

Directed by: Richard Linklater

Cast: Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy, Andrea Eckert

Movie duration: 101 minutes

Synopsis: Jesse (Hawke), an American man, meets Celine (Delpy), a French woman, on a train ride through Europe. Though they are meant to part ways in Vienna, they find themselves attracted to each other and decide to spend more time together. They wander the streets and engage in meaningful conversations about love and life. The film is set over the course of a single night.

What makes it a comfort watch: Before Sunrise is one of those movies that barely have any plot. It is, after all, about just two strangers meeting and talking — that’s it. But since the writing is so strong and the actors are so good at their job, we cannot help but watch it with rapt attention. Linklater’s direction makes the film look as if it was not scripted at all and that we really are witnessing two good-looking strangers bonding with each other.

Bonus tip: It need not be said but watch the two sequels as well. They are at least as good. The final entry, Before Sunset (2004), might even be the best of them all.

IMDb rating: 8.3

Directed by: Gus Van Sant

Cast: Robin Williams, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Stellan Skarsgård

Movie duration: 126 minutes

Synopsis: Will Hunting (Damon) is a janitor with a genius-level intellect. He works at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and keeps getting in trouble with the law like all wayward youngsters of his age. He gains attention when he solves a complex mathematics problem given to his students by Professor Gerald Lambeau (Skarsgård). Lambeau refers him to a therapist and his friend Sean Maguire (Williams), who he believes can convince the young man to abandon his violent behaviour and live a more fulfilling life by making use of his uncommon talent. Will and Sean then undergo a journey, wherein they both come to understand each other through empathy.

What makes it a comfort watch: This movie rewards repeated viewings, and it was only after a second or third watch I came to appreciate the sheer depth of Williams’ performance. As always, he plays this character like he has lived in his shoes his whole life. He does not portray Sean Maguire, he becomes him. The script (by Damon and Affleck) is a masterpiece in itself, both sparse and complex, allowing actors room to stretch their acting muscles.

Awards won: Damon and Affleck won an Oscar for Best Screenplay. Williams was bestowed with an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.

Bonus tip: If you like well-made movies of this kind (about self-discovery and personal growth), here are a few other recommendations: Dead Poets Society (1989), Rain Man (1988) and A Beautiful Mind (2001).

IMDb rating: 8.3

Directed by: John Lasseter

Voice cast: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Don Rickles, John Morris

Movie duration: 81 minutes

Synopsis: In the world of Pixar’s Toy Story, the studio’s first-ever movie mind you, toys come to life and converse amongst themselves when humans are not around. Woody (Hanks) is the favourite toy of a little boy called Andy (Morris). Woody’s world turns upside down when Andy is gifted a brand new space ranger action figure Buzz Lightyear (Allen) and it becomes his favourite toy. Buzz, though, thinks he is an actual space ranger, and he and Woody are at loggerheads. When they get lost outside the house, they must reluctantly team up to find their way back.

What makes it a comfort watch: Its animation may be dated (it was the first fully computer-animated feature film), but Toy Story is a reminder of what really makes Pixar, the writers and artists that make up the studio great: a great love for what they do. Despite the substandard visual quality, it is the memorable characters and heartfelt storytelling that make fans of the franchise return to it again and again.

Bonus tip: Toy Story is great, and so are the sequels. Once you are done with them, watch Illumination Entertainment’s The Secret Life of Pets (2016) and The Secret Life of Pets 2 (2019), since they mirror many of the same themes.

IMDb rating: 8.3

Directed by: Pete Docter

Voice cast: Ed Asner, Jordan Nagai, Christopher Plummer, Bob Peterson

Movie duration: 96 minutes

Synopsis: In this Pixar movie, a retired balloon salesman Carl Fredricksen (Asner) decides to go on an adventure in South America to fulfil a dream he and his deceased wife had: exploring Paradise Falls, a place many believe to be mythical. He attaches thousands of helium balloons to the top of his house, converting it into a floating citadel (science-oriented people have long debated whether it’s possible to do so, and most concluded no). Unbeknownst to him, he has a stowaway on board — a young and enthusiastic nature-lover Russell (Nagai). Left with no choice, Carl takes him under his wing.

What makes it a comfort watch: The magic of Pixar has waned a little of late, but revisiting movies like this one can reignite that wonder that made this studio and its films so special. The themes of love, friendship and pursuit of dreams are seamlessly interwoven with the story and the animation is quite simply stunning — all vibrant colours and breathtaking landscapes. It all makes one forget real-world troubles for an hour and a half.

Bonus tip: Another Pixar movie, Brave (2012), makes for a nice double feature with Up. Of course, if you have not already, you should watch all the best Pixar movies like Toy Story 1-4 (1995, 1999, 2010 and 2019), Finding Nemo (2003) and Coco (2017).

IMDb rating: 8.4

Directed by: Steven Spielberg

Cast: Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, Paul Freeman, John Rhys-Davies, Ronald Lacey

Movie duration: 115 minutes

Synopsis: The introduction to Indiana Jones, easily one of cinema’s greatest characters, Raiders of the Lost Ark is set in the 1930s. It follows our favourite archaeologist-adventurer Indy (Ford), as he races against time to find the Biblical Ark of the Covenant before the Nazis do and wreak havoc on the world. Along his journey, which involved Peruvian jungles and Egyptian deserts, Indy faces enemies such as rival archaeologist René Belloq (Freeman) who is working with the Nazis and the sadistic Gestapo agent Major Arnold Toht (Lacey). But Indy also has allies he can count on in the form of his ex Marion Ravenwood (Allen) and his loyal friend Sallah (Rhys-Davies).

What makes it a comfort watch: Raiders of the Lost Ark is a classic adventure movie that continues to thrill and inspire decades after its release. It has everything: a dashing, charismatic hero, humour, fun action sequences, cartoonishly evil villains and a sense of excitement and wonder that never gets old. Spielberg is firing on all cylinders here, and that is saying something.

Bonus tip: Watch all the sequels — except maybe for the last one, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.

Here’s how to watch Indiana Jones movies in order

IMDb rating: 8.5

Directed by: Robert Zemeckis

Cast: Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson

Movie duration: 116 minutes

Synopsis: A teen boy called Marty McFly (Fox) is accidentally thrown 30 years back in time by a time machine built out of a modified car by his eccentric scientist friend Doc Brown (Lloyd). Marty learns that his actions in the past are changing the course of the future. Now, Marty has to make sure his parents meet and fall in love — so he doesn’t blink out of existence.

What makes it a comfort watch: Although, its premise seemed quite serious, Back to the Future is a fun, adventurous comedy. But at the same time, it incorporates deeper themes of identity, destiny and the interconnectedness of past, present and future.

Awards won: Charles L. Campbell and Robert Rutledge won an Oscar for Best Sound Effects Editing.

Bonus tip: The sequels are not as good, but they are also not bad — if you get my meaning. We sometimes watch sequels not because they are any good, but because we are too attached to the characters by that point. If you watch the first movie, you will certainly wish to know what happens to Marty and Doc.

IMDb rating: 8.9

Directed by: Peter Jackson

Cast: Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Astin, Sean Bean, Billy Boyd Orlando Bloom, Dominic Monaghan, John Rhys-Davies, Hugo Weaving

Movie duration: 178 minutes

Synopsis: Based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s iconic (and hefty) fantasy tome and the first film in a trilogy, The Fellowship of the Ring introduced a beautifully detailed fantasy world and a continent called Middle-earth, where an ancient evil in the form of Sauron is rising again after a peace of thousands of years. It falls upon a young hobbit called Frodo Baggins (Wood) to save the world. He and his friend Samwise Gamgee (Astin) are tasked by grizzled wizard Gandalf (McKellen) to go on a quest to deliver the One Ring to Rivendell, a settlement of the elves ruled over by the wise Elrond (Weaving). Ultimately, a fellowship, consisting of two other hobbits Merry (Monaghan) and Pippin (Boyd), an elf archer Legolas (Bloom), a ranger Aragorn (Mortensen), a Gondorian warrior Boromir (Bean) and Gimli (Rhys-Davies) besides Frodo, Sam and Gandalf, is assembled to destroy the One Ring to end this evil once and for all.

What makes it a comfort watch: I cannot stress enough how good this movie and the entire trilogy are. It is an epic tale of friendship, heroism and a struggle against overwhelming odds. Unlike other epic stories of this kind, the actual heroes here are tiny and insignificant hobbits, whose primary occupation is to stretch their legs, sip tea and watch others in front of their cosy subterranean dwellings in the bucolic Shire. A recurring theme in this giant story is that even the smallest individuals can change the course of history.

Awards won: The film won three Oscars: Andrew Lesnie for Best Cinematography, Peter Owen and Richard Taylor for Best Makeup and Howard Shore for Best Original Score.

Bonus tip: Do not miss the rest of the two movies. Just don’t. The conclusion subtitled The Return of the King, may be one of the best movies ever made. The Oscar jury in 2004 agreed with me when the movie was bestowed with 11 Oscars out of — wait for it — 11 nominations! It remains tied with Titanic (1997) and Ben-Hur (1959) for most Oscars for a single movie.

IMDb rating: 9.3

Directed by: Frank Darabont

Cast: Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman, Bob Gunton

Movie duration: 142 minutes

Synopsis: Andy Dufresne (Robbins), a banker, gets wrongfully convicted of murdering his unfaithful wife and her boyfriend and is sentenced to life in Shawshank State Penitentiary. While in prison, he befriends a fellow inmate nicknamed Red (Freeman). Despite all the hardships and bullying he suffers, he teaches Red hope and resilience. Andy uses his financial skills to help the warden (Gunton) launder his money. He finally escapes through a tunnel he painstakingly dug over two decades through his room to freedom. His escape inspired Red to reevaluate his life and the possibilities for his own redemption.

What makes it a comfort watch: The Shawshank Redemption is the highest-rated movie on IMDb, and while no film buff worth their salt would call it the best movie ever, there is a reason why one can watch this movie many times and still cannot get enough of this story. We find new meaning and inspiration with nearly every viewing.

About the movie: This movie is based on a novella by Stephen King, an author who is otherwise known for his horror novels and stories.

Bonus tip: If The Shawshank Redemption is the kind of thing you like, also check out The Green Mile (1999), which is also based on a King story (a novel of the same name) and directed by Darabont. It is not as hopeful, though. In fact, it is pretty depressing but equally powerful in its exploration of redemption and the human condition.